Despite his claims, the president has no Afghan strategy

[Zoom-boing]

Throughout last year’s presidential campaign, Barack Obama lambasted the Bush administration for fighting “the wrong war” in Iraq and ignoring the right one in Afghanistan. Iraq was a “war of choice,” Obama claimed, while Afghanistan was a “war of necessity.”

Repeatedly, he claimed that, if elected president, he’d unveil a new “stronger, smarter and comprehensive strategy.”

In March, in one of those solemn-looking occasions in which he excels, Obama said that the new strategy, which he did not elaborate, was already in place. He speeded up the troop buildup ordered by the Bush administration, and a few weeks later named a new commander for Afghanistan.

That commander, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, lost no time in revealing that the Obama administration had no specific strategy and that his first task was to work one out. By the end of August, he’d drafted a “new strategy” and submitted it to the Pentagon in the form of a 66-page report that included specific steps for moving ahead, as well as a request for still more troops.

Then, nothing happened — until someone leaked the report.

One can only imagine the general’s surprise when President Obama, asked to comment on the leaked report, said he wouldn’t allow himself to be rushed into sending more troops, as requested by McChrystal, pending the development of a “new strategy.”

One might say, Wait a minute! We thought you had a strategy before you were elected, when you castigated Bush’s performance in Afghanistan — or at least in March, when you announced “the new, smarter strategy,” or in June, when you appointed a commander to “carry out the new strategy.”

What of McChrystal’s proposed “new strategy” spelled out in his report? No, the president says he’s still looking for a strategy.

Obama has reportedly set up a special “situation room” to look for a strategy. One meeting has been held, with three or four more planned for the next few months.

As on so many other issues with Obama, we have “on-the-job training” on grand scale.

The New York Times recently quoted administration officials saying that the president may be having “buyer’s remorse” after “ordering an extra 21,000 troops there within weeks of taking office before even settling on a strategy.”

Cynics might say that Obama drummed up the “necessary war” mantra in Afghanistan in order to paint the Iraq war as “a strategic error” without appearing to be soft on national security.

Now that he’s in office, however, he no longer needs to take risks with a difficult war — especially when Afghanistan is becoming a liability in terms of public opinion.

The US media tell us the administration is divided over strategy. We’re told Vice President Joe Biden is pressing for a reduction of troop numbers in Afghanistan, while Secretary of Sate Hillary Clinton urges more boots on the ground.

Nor is there agreement on the diagnosis of the problem. Biden thinks that Al Qaeda is no longer a threat in Afghanistan, that America should transfer the war to Pakistan. Clinton mocks that view — insisting that, if the US scales down its military footprint, al Qaeda will return to Afghanistan “like mushrooms after rain.”

Obama's plan? what plan?

 

[Polk]

The article confuses disagreement over implementation for a lack of strategy.

 

[Zoom-boing]

The article confuses disagreement over implementation for a lack of strategy.

How's that?

 

[WillowTree]

he dances to the far let bullets! that's his stratagey..


code name WindSock!

 

[Si modo]

The article confuses disagreement over implementation for a lack of strategy.

If BHO has his own personal strategy, that's terrifying.

 

[The Rabbi]

His strategy is to vote present until Reid and Pelosi tell him what to do.
In the meantime he will send men to their deaths needlessly.

 

[JakeStarkey]

BHO has been untangling the Booshie gordian knot that is our Afghanistan policy. Bush lost the opportunity to succeed in Afghanistan when he invaded Iraq, thus denying adequate resources for both theatres. If we proceed, we are encouraging a zero-sum strategy. This is the fault of Bush and the Republican majority from 2001 to 2006. No wonder Americans have turned their back on the GOP.

 

[PatekPhilippe]

The President has no Afghan strategy.

Obama admitted as much last week!!!!

In March of 2009 he laid out his Afghanistan plan with much fanfare and in grandiose style.....and then after implementing it.....he promptly shit the bed. Now he even refuses to listen TO THE GENERAL ON THE GROUND IN AFGHANISTAN!

 

[PatekPhilippe]

BHO has been untangling the Booshie gordian knot that is our Afghanistan policy. Bush lost the opportunity to succeed in Afghanistan when he invaded Iraq, thus denying adequate resources for both theatres. If we proceed, we are encouraging a zero-sum strategy. This is the fault of Bush and the Republican majority from 2001 to 2006. No wonder Americans have turned their back on the GOP.

You know nothing about which you speak.....

 

[Si modo]

BHO has been untangling the Booshie gordian knot that is our Afghanistan policy. Bush lost the opportunity to succeed in Afghanistan when he invaded Iraq, thus denying adequate resources for both theatres. If we proceed, we are encouraging a zero-sum strategy. This is the fault of Bush and the Republican majority from 2001 to 2006. No wonder Americans have turned their back on the GOP.

BHO can't cut it, eh?

 

[foggedinn]

[/quote] Now he even refuses to listen TO THE GENERAL ON THE GROUND IN AFGHANISTAN![/QUOTE]

Perhaps now he will finally see the wisdom of W's ways and fire the general.